An assessment of the contraceptive security situation (CS) in Liberia was
carried out by a team of DELIVER consultants working with the Family Health
Division of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW.) Using an adapted
SPARHCS (Strategic Pathway towards Reproductive Health Commodity Security)
framework and tool, the team reviewed documents, met with stakeholders and
visited health facilities for the public, nongovernmental and commercial sectors
in five of the fifteen counties in Liberia. This assessment will serve as the
basis for the development of a national CS strategy. Liberia is facing many
challenges in rebuilding its health infrastructure following many years of
conflict. Chief among these is the transition from emergency assistance provided
by international non-governmental organizations, who essentially manage public
health facilities, to a more sustainable development type assistance where help
is channeled to the MOHSW with the goal of enabling that institution to provide
services directly. This period of transition will be difficult and has
implications for CS. There is a strong commitment to family planning at the
highest levels of the Government of Liberia but there are significant challenges
to be faced in translating that commitment into operational plans and delivery
of products and services. A particular challenge will be to transition from an
essentially vertical contraceptive supply chain to an integrated system with
other essential drugs managed by the National Drug Services